Program reminder



1 J. SMITH PROGRAM REMINDER Filed Jan. 2'7

April 1, k195s Had mi J l.iN/Tf1' IN VEN TOR.

-A f7-ORNE Y United States Patent PROGRAM REMINDER Lyle J. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,899

7 Claims. (Cl. 116-135) This invention relates to program reminder devices and has as its general object to provide a device whereupon a series of television programs or radio programs (or the like) can be indicated in advance for various hours of the day, so that a patron of such broadcast program can have before him an index to the various programs that he has selected from the information (such as advance newspaper publications of programs to be broadcast).

Another object of the invention is to provide such a reminder device which can be fabricated readily in quantity by quickly assembling a series of molded plastic parts.

A specific object is to provide such a reminder apparatus which is quite durable and relatively inexpensive, and which can be readily set for any days series of programs.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specifications and appended drawing in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, with portions broken away as shown, of a reminder embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse split fragmentary sectional view thereof taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the device taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view of still another portion of the device, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have shown as an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a program reminder device comprising, in general, a casing member 10, a bottom panel 11 and a series of slides 12 which are confined between the casing member and panel 11 for longitudinal sliding movements.

Casing member 10 provides the main body of a casing the lower side of which is closed by bottom panel 11. Casing member 10 is preferably molded of synthetic resin material (either thermo-setting or thermo-plastic resin, relatively unplasticized so as to be rigid and form-retaining may be employed). Casing member 10 includes top panel 32 which has therein a transverse row of display apertures (windows) 13, and, below the windows 13, a corresponding series of narrow slots 14 each extending fore and aft in substantial alignment with one lateral margin of a corresponding aperture 13, the series as a whole being arranged transversely of the panel 32 in a row paralleling and beneath the row of apertures 13.

Formed integrally with the lower side of panel 32 and projecting downwardly, are a series of guide ribs 15, each extending along one margin of a corresponding slot 14, the ribs 1S being parallel to one another and defining between them a corresponding series of slideways 16. The lower edges of ribs 15 abut against the bottom panel 11, whereby the slideways 16 are of closed, relatively shallow rectangular cross section, as shown in Fig. 3. The ribs 15 extend from the front to the rear margins of the casing member 10 and are joined to front and rear rim sec- Paten-ted Apr. 1, 1958 tions 17 and 18 respectively, integrally molded with panel 12. Slideways 16 likewise extend the full distance between rim sections 17 and 18. Side rim members 19 continue the rim of the casing member 10 around the entire periphery thereof.

Slidably mounted in slideways 16 are the slides 12, each of which embodies a relatively thin web section 20 and thickened land sections 21 and 22 at the respective forward and rear extremities thereof. Land sections 21 and 22 bear against the bottom panel 11 to maintain the upper face of each slide20 normally in contact with the under face of top panel 32. However, the slide members are of moderately flexible material (e. g. slightly plasticized thermo-plasticfresin material) and are adapted to flex downwardly toward bottom panel 11 in the limited space 23 normally existing between the under face of a slide 12 and the panel 11. Each slide 12 is provided on its upper face with a detent projection 24 which is receivable' in any one of a series of detent recesses 25 in the under face of top panel'lZ. For each slide there is a rowA ofthe recesses 25 disposed along the axis of the respective slideways 23. Each recess determines a position of the slide 12 wherein an indicator legend imprinted on the upper face of the slide, is centered beneath the respective window13 for that slide. -There are a series of such indicator legends, suchas the numerals 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, ll and 13 shown in Fig. 1, the same series of legends being imprinted on each of the slides. Such legends may indicate broadcasting stations or channels, or any other subject or f things to be indicated.V In each row'of recesses 25 there is a recess for each of the indicator legends and a recess 25a corresponding to a position of the slide in which there isno indicia displayed in the corresponding window 13. 'Y Imprinted on the upper face of top" panel 12 is a row 26 of indicia representing the hours of a day, i. e., cornprising the numerals l to l2 inclusive, disposed beneath alternate windows 13, the intervening windows representing half hours.

It will now be apparent that in the use of the device, a television or radio fan, by referring to his daily newspaper, may determine the channel or station numbers for the various programs of his preference, for each half hour of the day, and may set up on the apparatus, the information. that he has thus obtained. For example, assuming that a program beginning at 12:00 noon is to be broadcast over the television channel No. 4, the first slide may be adjusted to a position to bring its station indicator numeral 4 beneath the corresponding window 13 as indicated in Fig. 1. Similarly, the numeral 2 may be set up in the window of the second position, representing the 12:30 program, the numeral 13 may be set up in the window of the third position, representing the 1:00 p. m. program, etc.

Each slide 12 is provided with an actuator tab 27 formed integrally therewith and projecting at right angles from one side margin thereof, the said one side margin being disposed in the plane of the outer face of the respective tab 27. Correspondingly, each of the slots 14 communicates with one side margin of a respective slideway 16, its outer edge lying in the plane of the adjacent side face of a rib 15 defining that side of the slideway, as indicated in Fig. 5. In the assembled apparatus, the tab 27 of a slide 12 projects through the slot 14 which communicates with the slideway 16 in which it is mounted. Each tab 27 has a snug though freely slidable fit in its respective slot 14 and thus assists in aligning the slide for sliding movement along the axis of its respective slideway. Each tab 27 is disposed closely adjacent a respective detent projection 24 so that pressure against the tab may bow the respective slide 12 downwardly away from toppanel 32, .with maximum depressiontoccurring'attthe position of the respective detent projection 24.

Iii setting the slides, the operator'pressesdownwardly on tab 27 of the slide that isl to be set, thus releasing the detent projection 24 of that vslide from the recess..25 in,

which it is engaged. y The pressure against the` tab. ZT'isAv then directedv parallel. toV the longitudinaljaxis -of' the slide'g' so as to shift the slide in. its respective slideway'l until the selected indicator numeral 2 or 4 or 5, etc., appearsv in the respective window 13. The downwardpressure on`v the tab 27 is then released and the detent'projectionz24`is allowed to enter the recess 2S for the new position, thus locking the slide in its adjusted position.

I claim:

l. In a program reminder device: a casing including spaced top and bottom panels, said'top'panel having'a row of exhibitor windows and a series of slots extending at right angles to the axis' of said row' and each substantially aligned with one side of a respective window;

and a plurality of slides interposed between said panels,

each slide having an upper face provided with a series of program identifying indicia to be displayed through a respective window and each slide including an integral tab attached to a side margin thereof and thickened integral end portions providing lands projecting downwardly from its underace at its respective ends and slidably bearing on the upper face of said bottom panel, a ilexible central body bridging between said lands and spaced above said bottom panel, and a detent projection on its upper face; and wherein said top panel has for each slide a series of recesses in which said detent is receivable in order to latch the slide in any selecting exhibiting position; said iiexible central body being adapted to bow downwardly to provide for release of said detent projection from a recess.

2. A reminder device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said slides includes a tab formedintegrallythere with and projecting upwardly through a respective slot,

for manual, engagementto` move a respective'fslideflongi;

tudinally beneath its respective window for displaying any selected one of said indicia;

3. A reminder device as defined in claim 2, wherein said detent projection is disposed alongside the tab of its respective slide, whereby downward pressure on a tab is effective to bow the respective slide downwardly with maximum depression at the location of the detent projection.

4. A reminder. device as defined in` claim 3, wherein said top panel is formed with a series of integral ribs projecting downwardly from its under. face and seated against said bottom panel to define, in the space between said panels, a series of slide'ways in which said slides are guided.

5. A reminder device as defined in claim 4, wherein said top panel includes an integral rim extending continuously around its perimeter, said bottom panel being fitted within said `rim and secured to said ribs.

6. Areminder device as defined in claim 1, whereinv saidtop panel has a plurality of integral ribsprojeeting.

fromritsinner surface alongside respective slots and defining between themslideways in which said slides are guided.

7. A, reminder device as defined in claim l, wherein said lands project to an extent corresponding to the heightv of a detent projection, whereby the space betweensaid lexibleI central body andthe bottom panel is just adequatevto ailow a detent to clear the top panel when. re-

leased from a recess.

References Cited in the le ofv this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,100 Knopf- June 5, 1923v 1,773,670 Gerlich Aug. 19, 1930 2,725,029 Ammerman Nov. 29, 1955 

